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Messages - JohnBL

#1
Composers & Music / Re: Ingeborg Starck 1840-1913
Thursday 08 September 2011, 18:27
I don't know anything about the Starck Concerto but have long enjoyed and treasured theBronsart/d'Albert Ponti recording and looking out for recordings of anything else by Bronsart.  Maybe he was a one-hit wonder but if he wrote anything else of comparable quality I would certainly love to hear it!
#2
Composers & Music / Hakon Borresen
Wednesday 17 August 2011, 18:01
Being new to the site I tried searching for comments about the music of Borresen (1876-1954) and it didn't turn anything up.  Maybe I did something wrong but anyway it is more than worth a mention.

I have 3 CDs of his music; 2 on dacapo and 1 on CPO.  The works are symphonies 1, 2 & 3, the Violin Concerto, Cello Romance, Prelude to The Royal Guest and the ballet music At Uranienborg - Tycho Brahe's dream.

Surely I am not alone in thinking this is a fine, unjustly neglected composer?
#3
Composers & Music / Re: PRINCE ROSTISLAV
Wednesday 17 August 2011, 17:53
Quote from: TerraEpon on Tuesday 16 August 2011, 20:46
The Three Russian Folksongs are ALSO in English on the Vox set.

That's interesting.  On my copy they are sung in Russian!  Are you sure? I was not aware that there was a version in English.
#4
Composers & Music / Re: PRINCE ROSTISLAV
Tuesday 16 August 2011, 14:30
Prince Rostislav has been quite widely recorded by (as well as Svetlanov), Noseda (Chandos), Slatkin (Vox Box) de Waart (Exton SACD), Prats (ASV), Hughes (BIS), Maksymiuk (Naxos) & Polyansky (Chandos) and can be found on Youtube.

It is indeed an impressive work, one of the finest of Rachmaninov's youth and infintely better than The Rock (Op.7) and probably the Caprice Bohemien (Op.12).

Perhaps the best buy for anyone wishing to explore the early works is the Slatkin Vox Box of 3 CDs which includes all those mentioned in these posts plus the early Scherzo (his first ever orchestral work), The Bells, 3 Russian Folksongs, Symphonic Dances (his last work) & Vocalise in its orchestral version.  The Bells is sung in English (originally translated with the composer's approval for a performance by Sir Henry Wood at the Sheffield Festival) which is helpful for non-Russian speakers.

Consider exploring also the two piano trios (in G minor, without opus number and in D minor Op.9) and (if you can find them) the two incomplete string quartet fragments.  See also www.rachmaninoff.org